Happy Friday, readers! This week brought the appointment of a new Chair at the Securities and Exchange Commission, Jay Clayton. Under the outgoing chair’s leadership the SEC took a more direct and aggressive role in policing the retirement investment marketplace. It remains to be seen what approach Clayton will take as chair, but it stands to reason that, as a Republican-appointed official, he will be more laissez faire in his approach to government intervention in the client-adviser relationship. Stay with www.planadviser.com for the latest coverage of SEC, DOL, FINRA and more.

President Donald Trump nominated Clayton on January, 20, 2017, and he was confirmed by the Senate on May 2. The nomination by President Trump sends a clear signal to advisers about the likely style and character Clayton will bring to the Commission, especially compared with the ostensibly aggressive approach outgoing Obama-era Chair Mary Jo White brought to the role.
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It appears some last-minute amendments have largely removed controversial provisions from the Senate’s version of tax reform legislation that would have had a big impact on governmental 457 and nonprofit 403(b) plan sponsors.

The American Retirement Association says that tax reform could be a disincentive for small businesses to offer retirement plans; however, as one reader shares, there are counter considerations having to do with Roth 401(k) options that could mitigate some of the concern.